Locking device for concrete forms



NOV. 9, 1954 J c HUMMEL LOCKING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed April21, 1952 Z mm /W% Z W M n w 3 .k h a Z w J Q V #9 \Z F, i I w II/L h-United States Patent LOCKING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE FORMS John ClarenceHummel, Palatine, Ill., assignor to Robert 'R. Anderson Co., Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 21, 1952, Serial No.283,309

Claims. (Cl. 25-131) The present invention relates to a locking devicefor detachably connecting together a pair of separate members, disposedside by side in approximately parallel relation. The locking device,embodying the present invention, is particularly suitable for use indetachably connecting together a pair of adjacent panel units ofconcrete forms.

.As is well known, in producing concrete walls and columns, a form ismade up of a plurality of panel units arranged to provide at least twospaced-apart walls between which wet concrete is poured. Generally, eachof said walls is made up of a plurality of separate panel units,disposed in edge to edge relationship. Opposite sets of panel units, ofthe two respective walls, are usually interconnected by form ties tomaintain proper spaced relationship of the form walls. It has been theusual practice to secure adjacent panel units together in variousmanners, such as by nailing them together, or by nailing a series ofconsecutive .panels to a suitable timber, which is then suitably bracedby other timbers to secure the form wall in proper position to supportthe weight of wet concrete when poured between the form walls. Sometimesadjacent panel units are secured together by panel lock bolts. In all ofthese prior arrangements heretofore employed, a substantial amount oftime is required in properly connecting adjacent panel units together,and when nails are used additional time is required in stripping downthe forms, and frequently in removing the nails from the forms saidforms are damaged and require either repair or replacement. Where panellock bolts are applied, a substantial amount of time is required andnecessitates the use of tools. Furthermore, such latter type offastenings, by reason of their being composed of a number of separatepieces, frequently become lost and must be replaced.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a novellocking device which may be quickly and easily applied to securetogether a pair of separate members, disposed side by side inapproximately parallel relation, without the use of tools or otherimplements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel locking device ofthe character indicated, which is particularly .adaptable for quicklyand easily detachably connecting together a pair of adjacent panel unitsof a concrete form, and which eliminates the foregoing disadvantages anddifficulties now experienced in the securement of such panel unitstogether by current, conventional practices.

A further object is to provide a novel locking device of the characterindicated which is especially adapted for quick and easy detachableconnection of panel units of concrete forms in a manner which effectsgreat savings in labor as well as materials and which reduces to apractical minimum possible damage to the panel units so as to insuretheir being capable of reuse over and over again.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a concrete wall with forms inposition, and with the form panel units of each of the respective wallsinterconnected by locking devices embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the locking device embodying thepresent invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line 3-3 onFigure 1, showing the locking device in its initial position ofadjustment preparatory .to connecting a pair of adjacent panel units.together.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the locking device in anoperative locking position.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken as indipated at line 55of Figure 1, showing the locking device In an intermediate stage ofadjustment preparatory to assuming an operative locking position.

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5, showmg the lockingdevice in its operative locking position, corresponding to the positionseen in Figure 4.

As indicated above, the locking device embodying the present inventionis shown for purposes of illustration, as applied to panel units of aconcrete form. As seen in Figure 1 of the drawing, there are disclosedtwo horizontally spaced-apart form walls, indicated generally at 10 and11, between which there has been formed a concrete wall 12, supportedupon a concrete footing 14..

Each of the form walls is made up of a series of panel units, indicatedat 15, disposed in edge to edge abutting relation. The form panel unitsare of generally elongated, rectangular form and include a face panel16, such as wood. These panel units usually are disposed in uprightposition, as seen in Figure l of the drawing, and secured to the rearside of the face panel, adjacent each of the vertical marginal edges arevertical elements 18, and secured to the top and bottom of said rear ofsaid face panel 16, at their respective marginal edges, are horizontalelements 19. The elements 18 and 19 which are herein shown as 2 by 4s,but which may be of any other desired and convenient size, are securedtogether and to the face panel 16 to form a box-like structure. It, ofcourse, is to be understood that said elements 18 and 19 may be 2 x 4sas shown, or may be of any other suitable form, such as angle irons orchannels. As shown in the drawing, the vertical elements 18 are disposedinwardly a short distance from the marginal edges of the face panel 16,and the projecting edge portions of said face panel are notched toprovide seats for a plurality of horizontally extending form ties,indicated generally at 22. Said form ties are of a conventional type forinsuring proper spacing of the form walls 10 and 11.

It is to be understood that the form panel units 15, when positioned ona footing preparatory to making up a form for making a concrete wall orcolumn, are initially secured in place by nailing to a board on thefootings or by direct securement to the footing proper, or may bedirectly seated in the soil. The form ties 22 are placed in properposition as the panel units are mounted in place. As adjacent panelunits are placed in edge to edge abutting relation, it is necessary thatthey be firmly connected together to form a wall form of desired length.For this purpose each of the vertical elements 18 of each panel units isprovided with two vertically spaced-apart apertures 25, and whichapertures are similarly located in all panel units so that when twopanel units are disposed in edge to edge abutting relation, saidapertures of adjacent panels are disposed in registering relation witheach other.

The locking device, indicated generally at 30, and embodying the presentinvention, permits quick and easy detachable connection of two adjacentpanel units when disposed in edge to edge abutting relation, without theuse of tools and implements, and insures against possible damage to theforms when the form panels are being stripped from the formed wall orcolumn. The locking device as herein shown is formed from a singlelength of round rod metallic stock, suitably bent to form a terminal orpintle portion 31, together with a pair of spacedapart arms 32 and 33,disposed in approximately parallel planes, and said arms areinterconnected by an intermediate portion 34. As may be seen in thedrawing, the terminal portion 31, the arm 32, and the intermediateportion 34, provide a structure of generally U-shape formation and allsaid portions lie in the same main parallel planes. The arm 33 is bentat an acute angle in downwardly offset relation to said main planesdefining the portions 31, 32 and 34 of said locking device, as clearlyseen in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing, and the in a laterally out- 32and 33 is approximately equal to, or slightly less than,

the distance between the outer faces indicated at 18a, of the verticalelements 18 of the two adjacent form panels, as seen in Figures 5 and 6of the drawing. It will also be noted in the drawingthat the terminalend portion 'of the arm 33 is disposed from the free end of the terminalportion 31 a distance slightly greater than the distance from theapertures 25 to the outer edges of said elements 18 so as to permitinsertion of the terminal portion 31 into a pair of registeringapertures 25 of the adjacent elements 18 of two abutting panel units, asclearly seen in Figure 3 of the drawing. After the locking device isdisposed in the position seen in Figure 3, it may be swung downwardly sothat its arms 32 and 33 snugly and firmly embrace the outer surface 18aof the vertical elements 18 of the two abutting adjacent panel units,and thereby serves to firmly and detachably lock said adjacent panelunits together. The purpose of providing the outwardly bent portion 36on the arm 33 is to insure free, quick and easy engagement of the outerfaces 18a of said vertical elements of the two adjacent panel units bythe inner surfaces of the arms 32 and 33 of the locking device. The freeend of the terminal, or pintle portion 31, is preferably slightlytapered to facilitate its entrance into the apertures 25 in the verticalelements of the panel units.

Because the size panel units most frequently employed are of theproportions indicated, namely, two feet by eight feet, it has been foundthat two of such locking devices are sufficient for connecting two ofsuch panel units. However, for different size panel units it may bepreferable to use more or less than two of such devices for the purposeindicated.

It will be apparent that by virtue of the present invention,considerable time is saved in both initially connecting and insubsequently disconnecting adjacent panel units of a concrete form, aswell as insuring against possible damage to the forms which often occursas a result of stripping the panel units from the formed concrete wallor' column.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, manifestly it is capable of modification and re-arrangementof parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not,therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to theprecise embodiment herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited bythe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A locking device for clamping together a pair of separate membersdisposed side by side with approximately parallel outside surfaces andhaving a pair of registering apertures located a distance inwardly fromthe outer edges thereof, said device being formed of a single piece ofmetal stock having a terminal cylindrical portion adapted for insertionin said registering apertures to constitute a pintle, and having a pairof spacedapart arms, disposed in approximately parallel planes, one ofsaid arms being a continuation of said pintle portion, and anintermediate portion connecting said arms, said arms being spaced aparta sufiicient distance to provide firm engagement with the outsidesurfaces of said pair of members when the latter are disposed in side byside relation, said pintle portion, said one arm and said intermediateportion being of generally U-shape formation and being in substantiallythe same main planes, the other arm being offset at an acute angle withrespect to said main planes with its terminal end positioned asubstantial distance from the free end of said terminal portion.

2. A locking device for clamping together a pair of separate membersdisposed side by side with approximately parallel outside surfaces andhaving a pair of registering apertures located a distance inwardly fromthe outer edges thereof, said device being formed of a single piece ofmetal stock having a terminal cylindrical portion adapted for insertionin said registering apertures to constitute a pintle, and having a pairof spaced-apartarms, of substantially the same length, disposed inapproximately parallel planes, one of said arms being a continuation ofsaid pintle portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said arms,said arms being spaced apart a sufficient distance to provide firmengagement with the outside surfaces of said pairof members when thelatter are disposed in side by side relation, said pintle portion, saidone arm and said intermediate portion being of generally U-shapeformation and being in substantially the same main planes, the other armbeing offset at an acute angle with respect to said main planes with itsterminal end positioned a substantial distance from the free end of saidterminal portion.

3. A locking device for clamping together a pair of separate membersdisposed side by side with approximately parallel outside surfaces andhaving a pair of registering apertures located a distance inwardly fromthe outer edges thereof, said device being formed of a single piece ofmetal stock having a terminal cylindrical portion adapted for insertionin said registering apertures to constitute a pintle, and having a pairof spacedapart arms, disposed in approximately parallel planes, one ofsaid arms being a continuation of said pintle portion, and anintermediate portion connecting said arms, said arms being spaced aparta sufficient distance to provide firm engagement with the outsidesurfaces of said pair of members when the latter are disposed in side byside relation, said pintle portion, said one arm and said intermediateportion being of generally U-shape formation and being in substantiallythe same main planes, the other arm being offset at an acute angle withrespect to said main planes with its terminal end positioned asubstantial distance from the free end of said terminal portion, thedistance from the terminal end of said other arm to the free end of saidpintle portion being greater than the distance of said apertures fromthe outer edges of said members, whereby said arms, when the device isswung about the pintle axis, will be caused to engage said outside facesof said members and tend to crowd said members together.

4. A locking device for clamping together a pair of separate membersdisposed side by side with approximately parallel outside surfaces andhaving a pair of registering apertures located a distance inwardly fromthe outer edges thereof, said device being formed of a single piece ofmetal stock having a terminal cylindrical portion adapted for insertionin said registering apertures to constitute a pintle, and having a pairof spaced-apart arms, disposed in approximately parallel planes, one ofsaid arms being a contination of said pintle portion, and anintermediate portion connecting said arms, said pintle portion, said onearm and said intermediate portion being of generally U-shape formationand being in substantially the same main planes, the other arm beingoffset at an acute angle with respect to said main planes with itsterminal end positioned a substantial distance from the free end of saidterminal portion, the distance from the terminal end of said other armto the free end of said pintle portion being greater than the distanceof said apertures from the outer edges of said members, and the distancebetween said arms being approximately the distance between said outsidefaces of said members when disposed in abutting side by side relation,whereby said arms, when the device is swung about the pintle axis,

will be caused to engage said outside faces of said mem-' bers and tendto crowd said members together, the terminal portion of said other armbeing bent in a laterally outward direction.

5. A locking device for clamping together a pair of separate membersdisposed side by side with approximately parallel outside surfaces andhaving a pair of registering apertures located a distance inwardly fromthe outer edges thereof, said device being formed of a single piece ,ofround rod stock having a terminal portion adapted for positioned asubstantial distance from the free end of said terminal portion, thedistance from the terminal end of said other arm to the free end of saidpintle portion being greater than the distance of said apertures fromthe, outer edges of said members, and the distance between said armsbeing approximately the distance between said outside faces of saidmembers when disposed in abutting side References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ma Feb. 6, 1877 Kiefer Feb.6, 1923 Fairley June 12, 1923 Hyre Nov. 18, 1952

